# Bishop of Barchester — The Warden character guide

> Bishop of Barchester in The Warden by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Bishop

**First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-bishop-of-barchester

## Who they are

The elderly bishop who presides over the diocese and hospital.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mr_harding)

_professional_

The Bishop is Mr. Harding's ecclesiastical superior, and their relationship is formal and supportive but strained by the hospital controversy.

### [Dr. Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/dr_grantly)

_professional_

The Bishop and Dr. Grantly are ecclesiastical colleagues, with Grantly as his ambitious archdeacon, often pushing for action.

### [John Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/john_bold)

_rivalry_

The Bishop sees John Bold as a troublesome reformer attacking the church's institutions, leading to mutual antagonism.

### [Dr. Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/dr_grantly)

_professional_

The Bishop and Dr. Grantly are ecclesiastical colleagues, with Grantly as his ambitious archdeacon, often pushing for action.

### [Mr. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mr_harding)

_professional_

The Bishop is Mr. Harding's ecclesiastical superior, and their relationship is formal and supportive but strained by the hospital controversy.

### [Mr. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mr_harding)

_professional_

The Bishop is Mr. Harding's ecclesiastical superior, and their relationship is formal and supportive but strained by the hospital controversy.

### [John Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/john_bold)

_rivalry_

The Bishop sees John Bold as a troublesome reformer attacking the church's institutions, leading to mutual antagonism.

### [Dr. Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/dr_grantly)

_professional_

The Bishop and Dr. Grantly are ecclesiastical colleagues, with Grantly as his ambitious archdeacon, often pushing for action.

### [John Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/john_bold)

_rivalry_

The Bishop sees John Bold as a troublesome reformer attacking the church's institutions, leading to mutual antagonism.

## In the story

### [The Bishop of Barchester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/iii-the-bishop-of-barchester)

The gentle, kind bishop who sympathizes with Harding but is shocked to learn of John Bold's intimacy with the Harding family.

### [The Conference](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/ix-the-conference)

Desires peace and is visibly pained by the conflict, reluctantly agreeing with his son's stance.

### [Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/xx-farewell)

Writes a note of affection to Harding, offers him a chaplaincy and a gift of money, and consults with him about the future.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/xxi-conclusion)

Refuses to appoint a successor to Mr. Harding, officiates at Eleanor's wedding, and frequently invites Mr. Harding to dine.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/bishop_of_barchester
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters